PIT canteen workers could be in for a fair share of the cake after a pay battle lasting nearly 25 years.

Some dinner ladies and cleaners who worked at Parsonage, Golborne, Plank Lane and Parkside collieries stand to gain at least £3,000 each after the National Union of Mineworkers reached a settlement agreement.

That represents double the amount offered to women who have been demanding equal pay rights since 1977.

Lancashire NUM secretary Billy Kelly was delighted after former NUM leader Arthur Scargill announced the new deal which means full time workers would receive £1,000 per full year's service and pro-rata for part-timers, with both categories due for minimum payment of £3,000.

He said: "It is an excellent result and that's the opinion of the ladies who joined us at the meeting.

"They were pleased with the negotiations. The case was an important milestones in the fight for equality for women workers. I was proud of the small part I played in it."

Around 880 female cleaners and dinner ladies who worked at pits in the north west launched claims for equal pay in 1977 and in 1999 rejected a flat settlement offer of £1,500 each.